The rampant illegal parking of second-hand, used vehicles on footpaths across multiple areas in the city has become a growing concern for pedestrians.
Currently, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) anti-encroachment department is conducting a special drive against encroachment by hawkers and illegal stalls on the road.
However, used car dealers have turned footpaths into their personal parking lots, forcing commuters to walk on the busy roads, putting their safety at risk.
Several key locations, including Fatima Nagar, Rasta Peth Chowk, near Ranka Jewellers on Satara Road, Shankar Maharaj Math, and areas near Welcome Hall in Kondhwa, have been plagued by this issue.
The encroachment has not only inconvenienced pedestrians but also increased the risk of accidents, as people are left with no option but to navigate through traffic.
No action by administration yet
Despite numerous complaints from residents and daily commuters, the PMC’s anti-encroachment department, road department and the city’s traffic police have turned a blind eye to the situation.
The inaction of the civic body has allowed the problem to escalate, creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians, especially senior citizens and children.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal (FPJ), Anil Desai, a commuter, said, "Walking on the footpath has become impossible due to the illegally parked vehicles. We are forced to step onto the road. Moreover, the left part of the footpaths has been occupied by the administration to store drainage pipes and concrete, etc.”
“Several liquor bottles are lying in the middle of the road at Bibwewadi Chowk near the Bank of Maharashtra. Every day, lakhs of Punekars travel on this road and witness these bottles despite several politicians residing in this area. It is the responsibility of the Bibwewadi Regional Office to maintain cleanliness in the area,” Azim Sheikh, a resident of Gangadham Chowk, told the FPJ. He urged the authorities to clean up the locality and take action against the concerned officials.
Pradeep Awhad, Deputy Commissioner of Bibwewadi Regional Ward Office, told the FPJ, "The dedicated team of the department has been notified to clear the menace on the road. Beer bottles have been removed. However further action will be taken against the encroachers and drunkers who violate the norms.”
